Phoenix Coyotes next 2 games will help shape roster

With the Coyotes' roster down to 31, this week's preseason games will determine the fate of several who are fighting for the final few spots.

The Coyotes play Tuesday night in Edmonton, Thursday in Calgary then return home for the final preseason contest Saturday against San Jose. Goalie Mike Smith is expected to play the entire game Tuesday night.

"These two games (Edmonton and Calgary) are very important in our evaluation, and you get to the point late in camp where you're starting to structure people in lines that you think can build some chemistry," coach Dave Tippett said.

"It's still an evaluation process for some people that are trying to make our hockey club, so they'll get opportunities to do that the next couple of games. And the last game, we'd like to get down to close to our roster and play for the last game."

Tippett said the roster will be "whittled down a little more" Friday.

One player who has acquitted himself well in camp is Kyle Chipchura, a role-playing left wing who played 40 games with Anaheim last season.

"He's a real solid pro, where he understands the game," Tippett said. "His work ethic is top-notch, he understands his role in the game and his role as a fourth-line checker, penalty killer, he does it very well. He takes a lot of pride in it, so he's been a guy that certainly hasn't hurt himself so far."

Center Andy Miele still is clinging to the hope that he will stick with the Coyotes, and this week's games loom large for last season's Hobey Baker Award winner. The smallest player in camp - he is listed at 5 feet 9 and 175 pounds - has hit a little bump but is on the radar after solid efforts in the first two preseason games.

"It's getting tougher for him because you're getting teams that are playing more veterans," Tippett said. "He'll be a guy we'll watch close this week."

Playfair chips away

Associate coach Jim Playfair breaks down the game into little things, and that goes a long way toward improvement during the course of the season, said Coyotes defenseman Adrian Aucoin, who played for Calgary (2007-09) during the time Playfair was an assistant there.

"He breaks it down into simple little things. He doesn't really overdo it," Aucoin said. "I've played for some coaches who try to break down every play; he really just makes it simple.

"He worries a lot about positioning, and from there everything kind of takes care of itself. He'll just kind of chip away at little things all year long and just keep reminding you."